Good to know
Good to Know
- Many festivals occur on fixed dates but vary by year (odd-year vs. even-year alternation); always check ahead for 2026 schedules.
- Most traditional matsuri are free to attend; food stalls (yatai) sell items but are optional purchases.
- Popular festivals like Sanja Matsuri, Kanda Matsuri, and Sumida River Fireworks draw massive crowds; arrive early for good viewing spots.
- Golden Week (late April–early May) hosts multiple overlapping festivals due to national holidays.
- Fireworks festivals are primarily summer events (July–August), though Chichibu Shrine in nearby areas offers rare winter fireworks.
- Many festivals feature traditional music, dance, and street food; wearing a yukata (casual kimono) enhances the festival experience.
- The Meiji Shrine Spring Festival and other major events showcase rare traditional performing arts like Noh and Kyogen that are seldom performed elsewhere.
- Bon season (mid-August) brings countless neighborhood Bon-odori (dance festivals) across the city; check local community schedules.
- Temple bells ring 108 times on New Year's Eve; arriving before midnight guarantees hearing the full ritual.
Year Round Cultural Events
Hatsumode (New Year Temple/Shrine Visit)
- Month
- January 1–3
- Location
- Various temples and shrines across Tokyo
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; participates in ringing bells and offering prayers
- Description
- Traditional first shrine visit of the year to pray for peace and good health. Locals and visitors head to temples and shrines, with some attending on New Year's Eve to hear temple bells chime 108 times.
Setsubun (Bean-Throwing Festival)
- Month
- Early February
- Location
- Okunitama Shrine, Sensoji Temple, Zojoji Temple
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free; Sensoji Temple has no demons so participants do not say 'oni wa soto' (demons out)
- Description
- Traditional event marking the end of winter where beans are thrown to cast out evil spirits and bring good fortune. Children enjoy throwing beans at masked figures.
Plum Blossom Festivals
- Month
- February
- Location
- Setagaya Ume Matsuri, Bunkyo Ume Matsuri, and various shrine grounds
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Seasonal celebrations featuring ume (plum blossoms). Events include cultural activities such as haiku classes and tea ceremonies on weekends.
Kanda Myojin Spring Festival (Kanda Matsuri Spring)
- Month
- Late March – Early April
- Location
- Kanda Myojin Shrine, Ochanomizu area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; noted for large vermilion gate and cherry tree collaboration
- Description
- Spring celebration praying for food harvests and development of commerce. Features shrine maiden dances and traditional Japanese court music performances with cherry blossoms in peak bloom.
Cherry Blossom Festivals (Hanami)
- Month
- Early April
- Location
- Multiple parks and temple grounds across Tokyo
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; peak bloom typically late March to early April
- Description
- Quintessential Japanese spring celebration featuring cherry blossom viewing. Crowds gather to enjoy hanami, with illuminated yozakura (nighttime cherry blossoms) being especially magical.
Baka Matsuri
- Month
- April 26–27
- Location
- Around JR Akabane Station
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; tutorial videos available on official website
- Description
- Community festival featuring marching band performances, portable shrine parades, costume events, and the 'Baka Dance' highlight. Festival offers unique merchandise souvenirs.
Meiji Jingu Spring Grand Festival
- Month
- Late April – Early May (main: May 2–3)
- Location
- Meiji Shrine, Harajuku
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; beautiful shrine grounds with fresh greenery and azalea blossoms
- Description
- Annual spring celebration featuring rare traditional Japanese performing arts including Noh and Kyogen performances. Highlights include the 'Urayasu no Mai' dance about world peace.
Children's Day (Kodomo No Hi)
- Month
- May 5
- Location
- Parks and streets across Tokyo
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free; part of Golden Week celebrations
- Description
- National holiday celebrating children with brightly colored carp or koi streamers (koinobori) festooned throughout the city as symbols of strength and perseverance.
Sanja Matsuri
- Month
- May 15–17
- Location
- Asakusa Shrine, Asakusa
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station
- Description
- Quintessential Tokyo festival of Asakusa Shrine. Features musicians and dancers in traditional costumes on day one, mikoshi (portable shrines) parades on days two and three, and the Binzasara Dance (Tokyo Intangible Folk Cultural Property) performed to pray for good harvest.
Kanda Matsuri (Spring Festival – Odd Years Only)
- Month
- Mid-May (odd-numbered years; next: May 2027)
- Location
- Kanda Myojin Shrine and surrounding areas
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- 2026 is a Shadow Festival year (no main procession); local mikoshi parades continue
- Description
- One of Japan's three major festivals, held every other year. Features over 200 portable shrines, floats, dancers, musicians, and parades through Kanda, Nihombashi, and Akihabara. Attracts around 300,000 spectators.
Hanazono Shrine Matsuri
- Month
- May
- Location
- Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; largest festival in Shinjuku
- Description
- Major festival for the guardian deity of Shinjuku. Features over 100 food stalls within shrine grounds and lively community celebrations.
Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival
- Month
- Early to mid-June
- Location
- Hakusan Shrine, Bunkyo ward
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; 2-minute walk from Hakusan Station
- Description
- Festival showcasing approximately 3,000 hydrangea plants at Hakusan Shrine, celebrating Japanese appreciation for seasonal beauty. Rain-kissed hydrangeas create a unique rainy season spectacle.
Tsukiji Shishi Festival (Shadow Festival in 2025–26)
- Month
- June
- Location
- Tsukiji Namiyoke Shrine
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; 5-minute walk from Tsukijishijo Station
- Description
- Annual celebration at Tsukiji Namiyoke Shrine featuring mikoshi (portable shrine) processions. Houses one large main mikoshi and two smaller ones modeled after male and female lion faces.
Sanno Matsuri
- Month
- June 7–17
- Location
- Hie Shrine and surrounding areas
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- One of Tokyo's top festivals held alternately with Kanda Matsuri in even-numbered years. Features the Shinko Gyoretsu procession with people dressed in ancient aristocratic attire, passing through Nihonbashi and Ginza.
Torigoe Matsuri
- Month
- June
- Location
- Torigoe area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- 3-day festival featuring traditional performances and events in the Torigoe area, with the Miya-Iri (shrine entry) on the final Sunday being the highlight.
Mitama Matsuri (Lantern Festival)
- Month
- July 13–16
- Location
- Yasukuni Shrine
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Festival at Yasukuni Shrine honoring fallen WWII soldiers with a large display of votive lanterns on the grounds. Started in 1947.
Kagurazaka Matsuri
- Month
- July 24–26
- Location
- Kagurazaka area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Summer festival featuring traditional celebrations and local community events in the historic Kagurazaka neighborhood.
Sumida River Fireworks Festival
- Month
- Late July (typically late July or early August)
- Location
- Sumida River, Ryogoku area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free viewing from public areas; premium seating available for purchase (limited spots)
- Description
- Tokyo's most famous fireworks festival with thousands of fireworks launched from multiple spots around Ryogoku, filling skies for nearly two hours. Evokes the Edo period.
Azabu Juban Noryo Matsuri
- Month
- August 22–23
- Location
- Azabu Juban area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Summer evening festival featuring traditional celebrations in the Azabu Juban area.
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (Tomioka Hachimangu Festival)
- Month
- August 12–16
- Location
- Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Fukagawa area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; 3-minute walk from Monzen-Nakacho Station
- Description
- Annual festival featuring the 'water-splashing festival' tradition where purifying water is splashed on mikoshi (portable shrines). Shrine-bearers and spectators create playful energy.
Hachioji Matsuri
- Month
- August 7–9
- Location
- Hachioji area, western Tokyo
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; food stalls line Koshu Kaido
- Description
- One of the Kanto region's major festivals, known for 19 floats divided into two groups. Features 'buttsuke' (duel of festival music) between floats and puppetry traditions dating to the Edo Period.
Kaminarimon Bon Odori (Lantern Bon Dance)
- Month
- Early September
- Location
- In front of Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; 2-minute walk from Asakusa Station
- Description
- Bon dance festival in Asakusa featuring beautiful Akita Prefecture lanterns decorated with Japanese-style paintings. Includes performances and booths selling Akita Prefecture specialty products.
Ebisu Station Bon Dance Festival
- Month
- August
- Location
- Ebisu Station front plaza
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; food stalls offer karaage and sandwiches
- Description
- Historic Bon dance festival continuing for approximately 70 years, held in front of Ebisu Station. Features various Bon dances with songs related to Tokyo and Ebisu. Simple dance moves welcome participation.
Nezu Shrine Reitaisai (Nezu Matsuri)
- Month
- September
- Location
- Nezu Shrine, Ueno area
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Major annual festival at Nezu-jinja Shrine established in 1714, featuring traditional dance performances and street stalls.
Fukuro Matsuri (Ikebukuro Festival)
- Month
- October 11–12
- Location
- Around JR Ikebukuro Station
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; highlights include 'fighting mikoshi' with bearers clashing during nighttime street parades
- Description
- Ikebukuro's largest festival conducted over two parts. Features opening ceremony with Japanese taiko drum performances, dance shows, and mikoshi (portable shrine) parades. Includes the 'Tokyo Yosakoi Contest' with over 100 teams performing.
Dara-dara Festival
- Month
- October (11-day autumn festival)
- Location
- Shiba Daijingu
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Autumn festival at Shiba Daijingu praying for bountiful harvest. Term 'dara-dara' describes something continuing without clear purpose. Originated as alternative to long pilgrimage to Ise Shrine.
Tori-no-Ichi (Bird Fair)
- Month
- November 7, 19
- Location
- Various shrine locations across Tokyo
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; kumade decorations sold as souvenirs (prices vary)
- Description
- Traditional fair for purchasing lucky bamboo rakes (kumade) decorated with auspicious symbols to bring good fortune and prosperity. Long-standing community event.
Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival)
- Month
- April 30 – May 6
- Location
- Okunitama Shrine
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry
- Description
- Festival of Okunitama Shrine known for unique tradition of mikoshi (portable shrines) being paraded at night without any lights, creating a distinctive 'darkness festival' experience.
Daikoku Festival
- Month
- January (near Coming-of-Age Day)
- Location
- Kanda Myojin Shrine
- Admission Cost
- ¥0
- Notes
- Free entry; lucky daruma dolls sold at markets throughout Tokyo
- Description
- Festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine honoring those turning 18. Shinto dancer dressed as Daikoku (deity of fortune) greets new adults by shaking lucky mallet above their heads.
Atsujiru-sai (Hot Soup Festival)
- Month
- Mid-February
- Location
- Koenji Station North Exit Plaza
- Admission Cost
- ¥800
- Notes
- 800 yen ticket allows choice of two different soup/stew types; popular selections include crab soup and regional Japanese dishes
- Description
- Winter festival in front of Koenji Station featuring local restaurants serving piping hot stews and soups. Includes voting event for most popular soup.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this signature annual events research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.